In 1988, after 7 Friday the 13^th sequels were released, two men in the U.K. decided to collaborate on a spoof like no other.  From writer Mark Cutforth and Director Anders Palm:

 

Hand of Death Part 25: Jackson’s back

(A.k.a. Unmasked Part 25, U.S. Title)

  

     Jackson can’t stop killing!  The Fact that murder flows through his veins… passed down from his filthy, fuck-hole of a father, a once brutal killer himself, now a broken down, old drunk.  These could quite possibly be some reasons for his problems.

 

      After many years spent in America with his mother, Jackson supposedly drown in the lake of a summer camp.  Having not died and left to fend for himself, he learned to live off of small woodland animals while picking off the occasional camp counselor or 2 or 3 etc.

 

      Baring a goalie mask in order to hide his disfigured face and having the background that he does, we the viewers can clearly pick up on the widely praised American series that this movie is spoofing on, (Friday the 13^th) but done so with complete taste, I must say.

 

     At this point in time there had already been 7 installments to the Friday series, so it only seemed right for our British friends to use this opportunity and release this wonderful horror/comedy/drama… that’s right, it’s a drama as well!  They did so with much grace, and a fantastic twist on the story of our beloved Jason Voorhees.    

 

     The film features a love story that has to be seen to be believed.  Funny that I say seen, Jackson’s beloved, Shelly, hasn’t seen anything in a long time, do to the fact that she is blind.  Shelly happens to be into a few things that Jackson finds to be “not exactly normal” (S & M), it’s funny that Jackson feels this way, do to the way he lives… and let me tell you, he makes a KILLING! It’s ok to laugh; I know that was funny haha!

 

     The film starts out with a brutal, bloody, slaughter of a group of young people, that just so happening to be throwing a party in Jacksons old home sweet home.  Not liking this so much, he picks off each party goer, one by bloody one, with the exception of one Shelly.  One of these kills is straight out of Friday the 13^th part three, in which a couple, who just so happen to be fucking, are impaled with  spear, straight through both of them.  Then a lamp stand blowjob, that can’t be missed (by far one of the funniest fucking deaths I have ever witnessed).    

 

     As his love for Shelly grows stronger, he decides he wants to quit the family business and move on with his life.  Its amusing watching this, deformed, masked, psychopath, taking strolls through the park, walking downtown, shopping, and taking his chances of being laughed at.  All for the love of one very special, sight impaired woman.

 

    One scene in particular that I found absolutely hysterical was that of Jackson, trying to explain to Shelly that he’s not like the guy from the Hand of Death movies, He is the guy. Because of this, he fears his madness may never end.  Shelly pays him no mind.   She thinks he’s just being silly.

 

     Unable to control his killer instincts Jackson once again, goes on a killing spree.  It just so happens that everyone he is killing off in some way or another, knows shelly!  What had run across my mind at one point was, if he wanted her to be happy, he would not be killing everyone she knows… but then again it’s a Friday the 13^th spoof, so there is no reason or point.  He kills to kill.  These people just so happen to be the easiest targets I guess.

 

     Ending on a downer, yet still quite amusing, Jackson seems to have no remorse for anything he has done.  Or does he?  You be the judge!

Ratings:

For direction and screenplay I give an 8.  A fantastic spoof!  Done with such taste and originality, this deserves a high score.

For the cinematography I give an 8.  Grainy and overall just very well filmed, especially for an independent.  Fantastic close-ups and full view shots, throughout the entire picture, Hand of Death Part 25, is visually phenomenal.  I am sure some will disagree.

The acting also gets an 8.  Though cheesy at points due to a few poor actors (but not many) in the film, it was played out in true British humor, 80’s style!  From broken British slang, to very proper, almost poetic speaking, it’s just great.

The gore in the film gets a 10.  Some truly memorable scenes in this picture, from face splitting to throat slashing, blood flows fluent in this MONSTERPIECE!

The film overall gets my score of a 9.  Hand of Death Part 25: Jacksons back was an absolute, pure pleasure to view.  The insanity, humor, gore, and love in this film makes it a cult classic, in my book (if I ever write one)

 

 “It’s a hell of a life being a monster… it’s a hell of a life!”